Croc Shoes Follow Up: Religious "Sole" For Wear?

Well, it appears Crocs are just what the doctor ordered for some members of the Jewish faith. Here's how.

Last week was Tisha B'av, considered "the saddest day in Jewish history," marking several awful events that happened on that day over the centuries, including the destruction of Temple in Jerusalem not once, but twice--more than 600 years apart. On Tisha B'av Jews express their sadness, in part, by not wearing leather shoes (it's supposed to make them uncomfortable). Those observing the day usually wear rubber flip flops. But this year, portfolio manager Eric Distenfeld at Chestnut Ridge Capital noticed a lot of people coming to temple wearing Crocs. "I'd say I saw 400-500% growth year over year of CROX in shul."

So going into Thursday's earnings report, he bought a lot of CROX . The stock is up 16% since.

BANNER-RAMA I run an under-the-radar contest inside CNBC to award the best "banner writers." You know--when someone is talking and at the bottom of the screen a banner reads "Bulls or Bears? You Decide!" Actually, that's a lousy banner. Here are the best ones I've seen on our air in the last month. The staff is currently voting for a winner who will receive a $10 Starbucks card. WHOO-HOO!

For a story on ETFs making money in waste: "Dough in the Dumps" Homebuilders build spec homes adding to inventory woes: "Homebuilders Nailing Themselves" IHop buying Applebee's: "The Applebee's of IHop's Eye" Cholesterol drugs may increase cancer risks: "No Statin is an Island" Problems at EADS: "What's Eading EADS?" How to cash in on returns from college endowments funds: "The Well-Endowed" Wild action in oil pits: "Light Sweet Scrude"

We had several banners for Whole Foods' CEO John Mackey trashing Wild Oats online: "John Mackey: Feeling his Oats" "Granola to Sleaze-ola" "CEO Goes Wild" "Whole Foods, Half Truths" And one we couldn't air, so it's not in the competition: "What an A-Whole"

HELP ME PEOPLEI'm on vacation until the beginning of next week. Please continue to click on this blog even though I have nothing new to add. Why? The competition for blog traffic is FIERCE among us, and, well, my attempts at humor can't compete with Diana Olick giving you actual useful information. ( I put in her link but make sure you come back to me!)